LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- While "Cougar Town" is absent from ABC's fall schedule, ABC Entertainment Group President Paul Lee told reporters it does have a time slot: Tuesdays at 9:00/8:00c once "Dancing With the Stars" wraps its fall edition. It will be followed by newcomer "Apartment 23" at 9:30/8:00c.

Other highlights from Lee's brief press conference, following today's announcement of the network's 2011-12 season lineup (read the full release):

-- On if the late start means a reduced order for "Cougar Town": "No." Adding, if it comes to it, "we can run it through into the summer. I think what we want to have is more originals and more sustained originals [in general] as we go through the year."

-- On if he has any idea where the rest of their midseason shows will go: "I'd love to see 'The River' [the week following the Oscars] but I'm not guaranteeing it's going to be there... At the moment we're thinking 'The River' more [for] the spring and 'Good Christian Belles' we're thinking more spring as well."

-- On the success of "Dancing With the Stars": "We don't sell [advertising based on] households but it's now quite frequently beating 'Idol' in [total] households. It's a huge franchise for us. It is a live franchise for us. And it's extremely relevant. So we're super proud to have that."

-- On the episodic commitments for their new shows: "'Missing' has a 10 episode order. Obviously the ones in the fall are 13."

-- On canceling "Brothers & Sisters": "We certainly felt 'Desperate Housewives' was a great launch pad for a new show. We love 'Brothers & Sisters.' It's had a great run. If you've been watching it, what's now the finale was a great last episode. And we felt it was time."

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